Serious Physical Harm is classified as?

• A. Class B Felony
• B. Class A Misdemeanor
• C. Class D Felony
• D. Class C Felony

Answer: (D)

In Tennessee law, injuries that meet the threshold of serious physical harm are treated as serious bodily injury, which elevates the offense to a Class C felony. Serious bodily injury is defined as harm that creates a substantial risk of death, or causes permanent disfigurement, protracted disability, or long-term impairment of health or function. When an act results in that level of harm, the statute assigns the offense to a Class C felony, reflecting the greater seriousness of the injury. For less severe injuries, offenses may be charged as misdemeanors or lesser felonies, but once serious physical harm occurs, Class C felony is the appropriate classification.